Administering antibiotics through the cornea

Scientists at Valencia’s UCH CEU University have reported on efforts to develop ocular inserts for dispensing moxifloxacin.

The research, which was published in Drug delivery and translational research, could aid the development of a new approach to combatting ocular bacterial infections, such as corneal keratitis and bacterial endophthalmitis.

The team developed a thin, transparent insert from bioadhesive polymers which can be applied to the ocular mucosa.

Experiments involving rabbit cornea revealed that the inserts provided higher levels of ocular diffusion than commercial formulations.

“The ophthalmic insert we have developed allows a larger quantity of moxifloxacin to permeate through the cornea than existing commercial formulations of the drug,” the authors highlighted.

“Ocular delivery of moxifloxacin with this insert could be a new approach for the treatment of eye diseases,” they concluded.